Touch of Paradise

“She doesn’t like hospitals, and she’s one of our guests. Besides, it shouldn’t have happened.”

“Oh, Aaron,” a younger female said. “You’re such an old man. Things like this happen all the time.”

“All our guests should be safe. I knew those party boats would be a problem.”

“What are you so worked up about? They’re not even part of our business. If she wants to sue, she can sue them—what happened has nothing to do with us. You always take on more responsibility than necessary. Send her home.”

“Not until I’m sure she’s okay. I just wanted you to know why she’s here, not for you to try to change my mind.”

“Well, you certainly need to change your clothes,” the older woman said. “You’re dripping water everywhere.”

He snapped his fingers. “Oh, right, she needs clothes. Candace, could you give her something?”

“Aaron,” the older woman said, irritated. “Just have the staff go to her room and get some of her things.”

“Mum, it’d take too long. She could catch a chill and get sick.”

“What chill? It’s perfectly warm, and I doubt she’s that delicate,” the younger woman added. “You’re such a protector.”

“I don’t have time for this. I have to go change and then keep an eye on her. Will you help me or not?”

“Okay, just this once.”

Rebecca pretended to watch TV when she heard his footsteps. He stopped and looked in on her. “Why aren’t you sitting down?”

“I didn’t want to get the sofa wet.”

“Right, I’m sorry,” he said, looking contrite. “I forgot about that. My sister will have something for you to wear in a minute. I’m just going to get changed, and I’ll be right back.”

“You really don’t—” she started, but he’d left before she could finish.

Rebecca looked around the elegant room, feeling even more awkward than before. If his family didn’t want her there, maybe she should have gone to the hospital. She felt fine. She wasn’t nauseous and was steady on her feet, and she didn’t like feeling like a stray cat he’d found.

She put his jacket down, then poked her head out into the hallway. No one was around, and if she left, then the problem would be solved. She started to tiptoe to the doorway when she heard an amused female voice. “That’s not a good idea.”

She turned around and saw an attractive young woman, a little older than Aaron, grinning at her. “He’ll just come and find you.” She held out several clothing items. “Just get changed, and get used to being here.”

“But I’m really okay,” Rebecca said, reluctantly taking the clothes.

“My brother takes his responsibilities seriously,” the woman said, leading Rebecca to a bathroom. “He’s going to look after you until the morning, so you might as well get used to the idea. I’m Candace, by the way. If you haven’t figured it out by now, my family owns the hotel where you’re staying.”

“Rebecca,” she said, following the woman’s example. Rebecca walked into the bathroom, then turned to her. “This is all so embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing? You have no idea how many girls would love to be in your shoes.” She winked and then closed the door.

Resigned, Rebecca changed, then looked at her torn dress. She’d designed it herself, but the stitching hadn’t been strong enough. She’d have to take better care in the future. She didn’t want them to think she’d fallen overboard on purpose. Then her thoughts turned back to her rescuer. He was wonderful, and she could understand why he’d be a hot catch, but she didn’t want to give him or his family the wrong impression. But since she was going to have to stay, she decided she’d make the best of it.

In truth, she was curious to know more about him and wanted to spend as much time with him as she could. Once she put on the skirt and top Candace had handed her, she looked in the mirror and wasn’t too surprised by the image she saw. She looked terrible. While the skirt and top would look stunning on the other woman’s tall willowy frame, Rebecca looked awkward and dumpy because she was almost a foot shorter and a little wider.

But she was used to wearing secondhand clothes, and as a fashion major she knew that clothes could be made to fit the woman. She rolled up the skirt at the waist, so it fell shorter, just above her knees. Then she folded up the arms of the top and pulled and tied it in the back, then looked at her reflection, satisfied. She heard a quick knock on the door. “Can I come in?” Candace asked.

“Yes.”

Candace came in holding a bottle in one hand and a hair dryer in the other. She stopped and stared at her. “Wow, I’ve never seen those items worn like that before.”

Rebecca shrugged. “I had to make some adjustments, but don’t worry, none of the changes are permanent.”

Candace walked around her, impressed. “Very creative.” She set the hair dryer and bottle of moisturizer down. “I thought you might want this for your hair.”

“Thanks.” Once Candace left, Rebecca plugged in the blow dryer, then lathered her bare skin with some of the moisturizer. She had exchanged her heels for a pair of plush slippers once she had entered the house and felt more comfortable. Before leaving the bathroom, Rebecca checked her reflection. With the help of the blow dryer, her hair looked slightly tamed, and she had wiped off her smudged makeup. That would have to do, she thought with a shrug, then left. She found Aaron sitting in front of the TV dressed in khaki pants and a T-shirt. When he turned and looked at her, he stood up and smiled. “Now you look much better.”

Rebecca looked down at herself. “Liar.”

He rested his hand on his chest as if she’d wounded him. “Why would I lie?”

“Because you’re sweet.”

He winced. “Ouch, you really know how to hurt a man’s ego. You want the truth?”

“I didn’t say that.”

He handed her a phone. “Here.”

“What’s that for?”

“In case you want to call someone and let them know you’re okay.”

“Oh, right,” she said, taking the phone. “Thanks.” She dialed her friend Marie and told her what had happened.

“You really should go to the hospital,” Marie said after Rebecca had finished. “I heard something bad happened on that boat.”

“Shh, I’m all right,” Rebecca said, wishing that Marie didn’t have a habit of shouting over the phone.

“Who is this guy? What if he made up his story about chaperoning the boat and plans to take advantage of you?”

Rebecca glanced over at Aaron, who continued watching TV, hoping he couldn’t overhear her friend. “I’ve already met his sister, and his mother’s here, too,” she said in a low voice, hoping Marie would take a hint and do the same. “Nothing’s going to happen.”

“But what if they’re not really related to the owners, and they’re a group of cons who prey on tourists and—”

Rebecca inwardly groaned, regretting her choice to call. Maybe she should have told her a different story. Marie had a wilder imagination than she did. “I’m okay. The reason I called you was so that you wouldn’t worry. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Just remember that if he tries anything, go for the soft spots and—”

“Good night,” Rebecca said before disconnecting. She handed the phone back to Aaron, then sat down.

Aaron replaced the phone and sat beside her. “What soft spots should you go for?”

Rebecca felt her face burn. “You heard that?”

“Couldn’t help it. I think I could hear your friend over a hurricane warning.”

“She just worries sometimes.”

Aaron nodded, then pointed to the TV. “You can watch whatever you want.”

“I don’t watch much TV,” Rebecca said, glancing around the room. She pointed to a covered table near the wall where a framed item sat. She saw a miniature three-dimensional scene of people taking a picture in the cove. “What’s that?”

“Oh, just one of my hobbies.”

She walked over to it. “It’s beautiful. What is it called?”

“A diorama.”

“Do you have others?”

Aaron looked at her, skeptical. “You really want to see them? My job is to keep you awake, not put you to sleep.”

“I won’t fall asleep. I’m really curious.”

“Okay.” He lifted up the tablecloth and set three more dioramas on the table.

Rebecca bent down and studied their intricate details.

“I base some of them on stories like Treasure Island or Robinson Crusoe, but I mostly like showing scenes of nature,” Aaron said after a while, as if he was made uncomfortable by her silence.

She turned to him. “You really love this island, don’t you?”

“It’s my life.”

“You remind me of my grandmother.”

Aaron frowned and started to put the dioramas away, annoyed. “Because this is the hobby of an old woman?”

“No, because you create beautiful things. My grandmother is one of the most amazing women I’ve ever known. I’m a fashion design major because of her. She couldn’t afford much, but she always made me look and feel good. Even when other kids would make fun of a sweater she created, I didn’t care, because every time I put something on that she made, I knew I was loved. She’d take my sister and me to the park and just look at birds, and gain inspiration for a dress or blouse. She’d race home and gather different cloths and materials and create something amazing. She lives life with passion. Just like you.”

“No one has ever said that to me before. I’m not really—”

“But you are,” Rebecca interrupted. “Looking at what you’ve created makes me want to be an inch tall so that I can escape into this world. I can see your love of this island and the people here. You’re so talented. I wish I could create something this intricate.”

“They are really not that difficult to make. It just takes some patience. Want me to show you?”

“Yes.”

All through the night Aaron eagerly showed Rebecca his collection of art materials and selection of intricate hand tools he used, and walked her through the basic steps to making a diorama. Then they spent the rest of the time sharing their hopes and dreams.

He told her about his vision to expand his family’s hotel into an international holiday resort; she told him how she hoped to travel the world and become a famous designer one day. She made him laugh with her imitations of her various college roommates and professors, and her grandmother.

“I know your mother died in a hospital, but what about your father?” Aaron finally asked. “You only talk about your grandmother.”

“He’s gone, too. He died when I was three. But don’t feel sorry for me. My grandmother and sister love me enough for both my parents.”

Aaron pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. “How do you feel?”

At that moment she felt hot, but not from illness. She adjusted her position and moved out of his reach. “Good. I was sleepy before, but now I’m having so much fun, I’m not even thinking about what happened.”

He looked at the small scene she was completing, which consisted of a palm tree and what looked like a baby seal, sunning on a beach.

“It’s not very good,” she said. “But at least I’ve enjoyed making it.”

“You’re doing a great job, and it’s almost morning so I think you’ll be safe.”

“You want me to go now?”

“No, not yet,” he said with a smile. “I just didn’t want you to be worried about having to stay here too much longer.”

“Why not? I like it here. You’re fun.”

He laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“No one has ever said that to me, either. You really are a strange one.”

“How can that be strange? You are fun.”

He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “Thanks, I really needed to hear that. You’re sweet.” He stood. “Let me go get us something to eat.”

When Aaron returned carrying a large tray filled with bowls of fruit, hot cereal and toast, she could hardly eat. She couldn’t focus. He’d kissed her. Sure, it was on the forehead and like a kiss a big brother would give a little sister, but that didn’t matter. He’d kissed her.

He’d not only saved her life and listened to her stories, he made her feel special. No one had ever made her feel that way before.

Chapter 4

Rebecca returned to her hotel room madly in love. Over the next three days, she saw him around the hotel, but except for a casual nod, she didn’t catch his attention, even though she tried. She took great pains to make sure her hair was styled and her makeup was done right, and dressed up in her most attractive outfits. When another recent attempt failed, Rebecca sat and watched him from a distance.

“Stop that,” Marie said as the two lounged in an outdoor café.

Rebecca looked at her friend, surprised. Marie had a face as exciting as wet cardboard and an attitude to match, but Rebecca liked her anyway. “What am I doing?”

“Sighing. Whoever he is, he’s not interested. Forget about him.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s completely out of your reach. Besides, he probably has his pick of women anyway. Why would he choose you?”

“I say you should go for it,” Candace said, coming up to sit at their table.

“Why?” Marie challenged, looking at the woman with suspicion.

Candace shrugged. “Why not?”

“Why don’t you go for him?” Marie asked.

Candace made a face. “Because he’s my brother, and that would just be gross.”

“Marie, this is Candace,” Rebecca said, making the introductions. “Candace, Marie.” After the two women shook hands, Rebecca said, “You really think I have a chance with Aaron?”

“Yes.” Candace looked over Rebecca’s dress. “Did you make that?”

“Yes.”

“I like your style. You’ve got a great eye for color.” She grinned. “You know I like you, and I want to help you.”

“Help me?”

“Yes. To get my brother. He needs someone like you.”

Rebecca leaned in closer with hope and longing. “Really?”

“Yes.” She lowered her voice. “He’s just getting over a really bad breakup and has been miserable. She was awful to him, but that night you were with him, you made him smile, and that’s not easy to do. Actually, we’re all worried about him.”

“Worried?”

“He really loved the other woman, and he may do something reckless. I think you’ll help him forget her. They’d been together two years, and she never once told him she loved him. He’s aching for a woman to tell him that.”

Rebecca felt her heart racing. She hated the thought of Aaron being sad or someone hurting him. She’d do whatever it took to make him smile again. She knew he was the one for her. “Tell me what I can do.”

* * *

“I don’t like this,” Marie said the next evening as she sat on her bed and watched Rebecca put on her lipstick.

“You’ve already said that ten times.”

Marie drew up her legs and rested her chin on her knees. “How do you know you can trust her?”

Rebecca put her lipstick away. “She’s been nice to me, and why wouldn’t you believe her?”

“Because she’s beautiful. Beautiful women don’t know what it’s like for the rest of us, and they can’t be trusted.”

“You sound jealous.”

“I’m not really. I’m just worried about you.”

Rebecca sat on the bed and patted Marie on the head the way she would an affectionate pet. “You’re always worried about me. But don’t be. He’s the one. I know he is.”

“I’ve never seen you like this.”

“I know,” Rebecca said, as surprised as her friend about how strong her feelings were. “That must mean something. I have this feeling that I have to be with him. When I first saw him, I felt this connection.”

“That’s only because you were filled with fear. It was probably just a regular chemical reaction.”

Rebecca shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that. It was something more. I can’t put how I feel into words.” She jumped to her feet, then slowly spun around with her arms held out to the sides. “How do I look?”

“Can I be honest?”

Rebecca stopped turning and let her arms fall. “Do you have to be?”

“Yes.”

Rebecca folded her arms and braced herself for her friend’s criticism. “Then go on.”

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